Pritzker vote in Senate likely next week

June 21, 2013|By Katherine Skiba | Tribune reporter

Penny Pritzker testifies before a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing on her nomination to be Commerce secretary on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 23. (Yuri Gripas / Reuters)

WASHINGTON — The Senate is likely to vote early next week on whether Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker gets the top job at the Commerce Department, a Senate aide said today.

Pritzker, 54, nominated in May by President Barack Obama, is a business executive and Democratic mega-donor whose family founded the Hyatt Hotels chain and is among the nation’s wealthiest. She helped lead Obama’s campaigns for the presidency.

On June 10, Pritzker’s nomination won unanimous approval from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, a signal that she’s likely to be approved by the full Senate.

The timing of the vote will be set by the Senate’s majority and minority leaders, the aide said, and it’s expected to happen before lawmakers leave next Friday for the Fourth of July recess.

Last Monday, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent more questions for Pritzker to answer, chiefly about $53.6 million in compensation she received from a family trust based in the Bahamas.

Grassley is expecting Pritzker’s answers early next week, said Jill Kozeny, his spokeswoman.

Meantime, a vote also is expected next week on whether to confirm Anthony Foxx to lead the Department of Transportation. If approved, he would replace Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican and former U.S. congressman from Peoria.